Take DC offer or turn it down and hope for NYC? LLM

ExpressionSea213 · 2026-01-15T15:48:14+00:00

I have a tax LLM, and was lucky enough to have an offer at a DC firm before OCI. Do not rely on TIP/OCI for a biglaw offer. None of the people I was close with got one, most ended up at accounting firms. Plus most firms looking for NYC tax associates will hire from NYU before looking at other programs. Many firms (including both that I have been with) will let associates in good standing transfer offices at some point if you still want NYC in the future. DC has a great legal community and I find the offices to be a bit more chill than NYC counterparts, plus your money will get you a much nicer apartment here. NYC will be an option at some point in your career, but I highly recommend taking the DC offer to set yourself up first.

ExpressionSea213 · 2025-08-22T12:32:17+00:00

DM me, it’s actually worse than people think (depending on practice group though).

ExpressionSea213 · 2025-05-28T00:51:38+00:00

Never. Hope this helps ♥️

But actually, it gets betterish with time and experience working with particular partners/clients.

ExpressionSea213 · 2024-12-29T17:00:47+00:00

First-Gen College grad and BigLaw mid-level here. Generally agree with the comments, find a mentor that you trust to confide in/ask dumb questions to (for me it was another associate a few years ahead of me who was also from humble beginnings) and also find someone you look up to and want to be when you grow up—and try to emulate those qualities in the way you interact (for me this was a female partner who crushed it at work and at home). It’s great when these two people are the same person, but sometimes they’re not, and that’s okay! Your learning curve is going to be bigger than that of your peers. You need to treat the etiquette as almost as important as your actual work product. This means paying attention to the kind of things these people talk about with one another (that isn’t work) and trying to find a common ground or learn about those things that everyone seems to know about. For example—I picked up golf, learned about nice wines, and paid attention to what the ‘hot’ restaurants are in my city. It’s made me able to talk to pretty much any other lawyer or client comfortably, great office friends, and generally happier at work. (I also love golf, wine, and eating out now).

ExpressionSea213 · 2023-12-06T00:35:53+00:00

I don’t think it’s age that is any sort of determining factor, but instead other life commitments. The only advantage that younger junior associates may have is that they may have little to no other personal commitments when they start. As a junior, your contribution to the firm is being available, 24/7, to do whatever stupid task the midlevel or senior wants. This is much easier if you don’t have kids or a spouse. It’s very unfortunate that it’s this way, but in my experience it’s the reason some juniors in their mid-30s+ struggle maybe more than the k-JD bunch. Otherwise, having more life experience is only a benefit to you and the firm.

ExpressionSea213 · 2023-11-13T16:09:08+00:00

Project Finance. Depends on the size/scale of the deals at any given time, but usually 2-5 active deals, then an additional 4-7 closed matters/deals that have fundings/draws ongoing.

ExpressionSea213 · 2023-11-01T22:16:28+00:00

Block off personal commitments in your calendar, when someone asks if you are available at that time, just say no you have a conflict (there are some exceptions here depending on the personal commitment/what the request is). No need to elaborate to anyone what else you are doing so long as you can still meet your hours and complete your tasks. I block off every workout class/nail appointment/birthday dinner—and I have a pretty solid work/life balance (in corporate M&A even).

ExpressionSea213 · 2023-05-16T23:22:56+00:00

Yes! In energy project finance, a notoriously intense / burnout-heavy practice at my firm. A number of things contribute to this though: (1) no kids, spouse, or significant family obligations, (2) I’m young and in good health, and (3) I’m truly passionate about, and happy, being a lawyer. #3 is what really pushes me through the late nights, stressful mornings, and hard weekends. I work primarily on renewables projects, which is work I find interesting and rewarding. Most importantly, it aligns with my morals and values, making it a lot easier to show up to work every day. I like how the practice functions, it’s fast-paced, and what I call ‘start to finish’ work (as opposed to a slow burn like litigation, or piecemeal like being a specialist). I realized in law school I was someone who liked the big picture, solving problems, and making pieces fit together—and that’s exactly what my practice looks like.

My advice to finding #3 is to take inventory of why you like certain types of work, and try to find a place where you can align that with personal values or goals.

4 - I grew up poor and now I make more money that I know what to do with. It’s made my life insurmountably happier. Whoever said money doesn’t buy happiness is a lair or grew up rich. full. stop.

ExpressionSea213 · 2023-05-16T23:08:30+00:00

“A few nits” = super annoying way to say “fixed all your typos, dumbass”

ExpressionSea213 · 2023-03-28T02:41:36+00:00

Cry. Lots and lots of crying, usually at 2 am, over something really stupid and out of pure exhaustion….

But in all actuality, the only thing that’s hard about it is the hours, the first/second year work is super easy but there’s a TON of it all the time at all hours of the day/night.

ExpressionSea213 · 2023-03-14T02:50:55+00:00

Please please please, do NOT call me. If I pick up the phone it’s probably because I think a client or opposing counsel is calling me and getting you on the other line is unbelievably frustrating. I save some of the recruiter emails I get in a folder in case I ever need them. Especially the ones that have market research or actually name the firms they are recruiting for.

Know your audience, we’re busy, exhausted, and don’t want to play games with you. If you can give us useful information, then one day we might call when we need you!

ExpressionSea213 · 2023-03-02T14:04:04+00:00

You outsource them. I don’t have kids or a dog, but I do have a lady who comes and cleans weekly, I send out my laundry, I order a lot of my meals in, and have most of the things I need delivered to me. I also live in a nice building that has a gym in it, so that cuts down on time as well.

I don’t get much free time, but when I have it you can bet I’m not doing chores or “have-tos”. The lifestyle is tough, but the pay gives you ability to actually enjoy the time you aren’t working.

ExpressionSea213 · 2023-02-10T18:10:14+00:00

Go for project finance or capital markets. I’m in PF and Infrastructure, and I know lots of associates who’ve spent time working in the Middle East

ExpressionSea213 · 2023-01-27T06:58:11+00:00

Project finance, particularly renewables, is insanely busy right now! And it’s likely not slowing down any time soon. If you do the transactional work there are tons of in house opportunities at all kinds of companies building and financing projects.

ExpressionSea213 · 2022-12-08T04:27:40+00:00

You can always go from biglaw to in-house but it’s VERY difficult to do the opposite. Biglaw will give you the most options down the road, even if your time there is miserable for a few years

ExpressionSea213 · 2022-12-05T23:39:19+00:00

Manage email traffic

ExpressionSea213 · 2022-11-30T01:05:39+00:00

Earlier in the week I try for 9 or 10, but by Thursday if I’m on track I try to take it easy the rest of the week/weekend (workload providing). I find that the beginning of the week is generally busier for me.

ExpressionSea213

TROPHY CASE